Hornets Down Towanda 9-5 For 1st Win Of Season

By: Ed Weaver  /  March 28, 2025

The Wellsboro Varsity Baseball team erased a four-game losing streak with a 9-5 win over Towanda on Thursday.

"The quality start from Gabe on the mound tonight is exactly what we needed," head coach Kyle Smith said. "We had one shaky inning defensively, but settled down and responded with a complete baseball game."

Senior Gabe Sprouse put the Hornets on the scoreboard first when he stole home on a double steal with senior Ryder Bowen at the plate. Wellsboro held their 1-0 lead into the 3rd when the Black Knights' offense came alive and scored 4 runs to take a 4-1 lead. However, Wellsboro plated 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead for good.

Sophomore Coen Tennis singled to left to score both Sprouse and freshman Griffin Morral to cut the lead down to a run, then sophomore Syler Pietrzyk (running for Tennis) scored as junior Cameron Owlett singled to right to tie the game at 4-all. Wellsboro took the lead on a long single by freshman Gabe Cuneo that scored Bowen to put the Hornets back in front for good. The Hornets' final run of the inning came as Owlett scored on a passed ball, putting Wellsboro up 6-4.

Sprouse and junior Marek Mascho both scored on a pair of walks after the Hornets loaded the bases in the bottom of the 4th to increase the lead to 8-4. Towanda got one run back in the top of the 4th, cutting the lead down to 8-5, but Wellsboro would add one more run in the 6th as Cameron Owlett scored on a base hit to right by senior Dustin Owlett.

Cuneo and Sprouse were both .500 at the plate with Cuneo going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sprouse was 1-for-2 with a walk and scored 3 runs. Tennis finished 1-for-1 with 2 RBIs, Cameron Owlett was 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, and Dustin Owlett was 1-for-1 with an RBI.

Sprouse threw 6 innings on the mound for the win, allowing 5 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Jack Wheaton and Dawson Butts were both 2-for-3 at the plate for the Black Knights, with Butts driving in a run and Wheaton scoring two. Butts earned the loss in 3 innings of work, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 4 hits with 5 walks and a strikeout.

The win improves the Hornets to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the NTL Large School Division. The team hosts Jersey Shore in non-league play Saturday morning.